For the past five days I have been neck-deep in IT shenanigans far beyond my pay grade. Next week the Raw Deal will take on a new, sleeker and more reader-friendly look. During the changeover I immersed myself in other blogs for inspiration. Often, I enjoy taking a break from the norm and find myself reading things of a completely different nature. This evening I stumbled upon a most unique and entertaining post by Sam Sommers, Ph.D. and Social Psychologist at Tufts university. Here’s what I found: Read the rest of this entry »

There is a bill that has cleared the House of Representatives and is now being debated in the Senate. This bill, sponsored by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, labeled a “Financial Reform Bill” , which according to President Obama, will clear corruption from Wall Street and large insurance firms, investment firms and banking institutions. Obama’s own words:

President Obama has a secret plan for you: he wants you as weak as possible. Think about it, The Tea Party isn’t exactly the easiest group for Government to control; they are strong. On the other hand, the emotionally driven Left abandon what few principles they have to follow a smooth-talking, shell of a man. The more dependent Americans become on their government, the stronger that government becomes. Fearing America’s resistance to the master plan, Obama’s Socialist experiment largely remains a secret. Our beloved country’s founders feel Americans are best served by self-governance, and I agree.

President Obama has a secret plan for you: he wants you as weak as possible. Think about it, The Tea Party isn’t exactly the easiest group for Government to control; they are strong. On the other hand, the emotionally driven Left abandon what few principles they have to follow a smooth-talking, shell of a man. The more dependent Americans become on their government, the stronger that government becomes. Fearing America’s resistance to the master plan, Obama’s Socialist experiment largely remains a secret. Our beloved country’s founders feel Americans are best served by self-governance, and I agree.

President Obama has a secret plan for you: he wants you as weak as possible. Think about it, The Tea Party isn’t exactly the easiest group for Government to control; they are strong. On the other hand, the emotionally driven Left abandon what few principles they have to follow a smooth-talking, shell of a man. The more dependent Americans become on their government, the stronger that government becomes. Fearing America’s resistance to the master plan, Obama’s Socialist experiment largely remains a secret. Our beloved country’s founders feel Americans are best served by self-governance, and I agree.

Really think about that folks. Our Constitution says no, most American’s say no, (see Rasmussen today) but in effect, that’s what our government has done for years by way of taxation. In the case of Obamacare – that obligation will become an all out smorgasbord of benefits stolen from those who have, rendered unto those deemed “in need”, ala the Karl Marx principle “From each according to his means, to each according to his needs”.

Really think about that folks. Our Constitution says no, most American’s say no, (see Rasmussen today) but in effect, that’s what our government has done for years by way of taxation. In the case of Obamacare – that obligation will become an all out smorgasbord of benefits stolen from those who have, rendered unto those deemed “in need”, ala the Karl Marx principle “From each according to his means, to each according to his needs”.

Really think about that folks. Our Constitution says no, most American’s say no, (see Rasmussen today) but in effect, that’s what our government has done for years by way of taxation. In the case of Obamacare – that obligation will become an all out smorgasbord of benefits stolen from those who have, rendered unto those deemed “in need”, ala the Karl Marx principle “From each according to his means, to each according to his needs”.

This video from Zonation quite succinctly explains EXACTLY why we see backlash like “Black Barbie is less than White Barbie” in today’s PC society.

I found this article on ABC news last week, and just had to shake my head.

Black Barbie selling for less than White Barbie. It’s a polarizing subject that I am sure the likes of Reverend Jackson could pontificate about for hours. In kind, most American’s could easily step in with valid opinions for varying reasons.

In the article, the experts consulted all suggested that smart retail business was tantamount to the devaluation of black girls. I think it’s a stretch personally, but I believe the opinions contained within the article outline the core of the real problem – that our aim is off. Blaming WalMart, or the dolls features for social “injustice” is just a reopening of old wounds – outlining separation of black and whites – ad nauseum.

For example:

Lisa Wade, an assistant sociology professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles had this to say, “Walmart could have decided “that it’s really important that we as a company don’t send a message that we value blackness less than whiteness,”. She went on to say, “Walmart could have chosen to keep the dolls at equal prices in an effort not to “reproduce whatever ugly inequalities are out there.”

Reproducing ugly inequalities indeed – that’s the core of it. That’s where our sites should be aimed – at stopping this “reproduction” at all costs.

Other key points of view from the Barbie Color controversy noted:

“Black children develop perceptions about their race very early. They are not oblivious to this. There’s still that residue. There’s still the problem, the overcoming years, decades of racial and economic subordination,” Harvard University professor William Julius Wilson

-and-

“The implication of the lowering of the price is that’s devaluing the black doll,” said Thelma Dye, the executive director of the Northside Center for Child Development.

Walmart’s position was back to those nutty capitalistic retailer ideas:

“Pricing like items differently is a part of inventory management in retailing,” WalMart spokesperson Melissa O’Brien said.

Ok, maybe they all have a point, and maybe you agree or don’t. But the pink elephant in the room went without mention, once again.

Residue. Reproduction of ugly inequalities. I don’t believe the actions of a retailer selling black dolls at “sale” prices is harming the socioeconomic fiber of black children in the US – I submit that it’s rather black leaders, schools, and government that do this.

Black leaders spew diatribes at the black community, telling them how they have been and are being oppressed, and being treated unfairly in all social and economic situations. The black community are constantly reminded of their unfortunate history in the US, and not of any strides and outright changes made since the early 60’s. Why are black people always portrayed by their own leaders as an exclusionary group, and not what they are – American citizens – PART OF the whole, not just “apart” from the whole?

Educators use black history month to drive this exclusionary mantra home. I am certainly not saying that history of the Civil Rights movement is not important – I am merely suggesting that we start calling it American History and to stop constantly pointing out the differences – constantly indoctrinating our youth that black people are different – so different that black history be separate from the rest of America’s history. Martin Luther King wanted black and whites sitting together – it wasn’t Mr. King’s idea to constantly have a separateness – his was a message of unification.

Indeed our US Government, as a never-ending apologetic reparations program has instituted programs further carving out a separateness of race, and not a kinship of mankind, such as Affirmative Action. Now before you go crazy – I understand why and how programs such as these, began– but what are they telling us now? It is like we as a nation are saying to the black youths of America that they aren’t able to qualify among the regular workforce, so we’ll give you a leg up. What’s the message here? Blacks aren’t as smart as other races? That blacks can’t compete unless the bets are hedged, that they can’t compete unless the deck’s been stacked in their favor? That giving black people a head start is the only way they can be equal with other nationalities? Even the PC term African-American is once again carving out a separateness of station. As if they must be hyphenated, or qualified in some way – just to make especially careful we redefine the differences over and over. Why not just be American?

If there is any message in the “Baribies” – it’s that it’s time to “sight in” our focus so that we’re aiming at the real problem here, and not continuing on the blame of our misguided past. We don’t need Black History month – we need a refocus on how black people are part of America’s history. Togetherness not separatist. We don’t need a separate section in the bookstore for black writers, or black literature – isn’t this exactly the OPPOSITE of what Dr. King wanted? Isn’t that just more segregation? Why not count the black authors among the white – standing side by side, and shoulder to shoulder – and not given preferential treatment, or segregated treatment, but a togetherness. A kinship. A sense of oneness.

We need to stop outlining our differences and concentrate on what makes us the same – let’s let Barbie be Barbie, and retailers make sense of business – and leave the residue out of it.

This video from Zonation quite succinctly explains EXACTLY why we see backlash like “Black Barbie is less than White Barbie” in today’s PC society.

I found this article on ABC news last week, and just had to shake my head.

Black Barbie selling for less than White Barbie. It’s a polarizing subject that I am sure the likes of Reverend Jackson could pontificate about for hours. In kind, most American’s could easily step in with valid opinions for varying reasons.

In the article, the experts consulted all suggested that smart retail business was tantamount to the devaluation of black girls. I think it’s a stretch personally, but I believe the opinions contained within the article outline the core of the real problem – that our aim is off. Blaming WalMart, or the dolls features for social “injustice” is just a reopening of old wounds – outlining separation of black and whites – ad nauseum.

For example:

Lisa Wade, an assistant sociology professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles had this to say, “Walmart could have decided “that it’s really important that we as a company don’t send a message that we value blackness less than whiteness,”. She went on to say, “Walmart could have chosen to keep the dolls at equal prices in an effort not to “reproduce whatever ugly inequalities are out there.”

Reproducing ugly inequalities indeed – that’s the core of it. That’s where our sites should be aimed – at stopping this “reproduction” at all costs.

Other key points of view from the Barbie Color controversy noted:

“Black children develop perceptions about their race very early. They are not oblivious to this. There’s still that residue. There’s still the problem, the overcoming years, decades of racial and economic subordination,” Harvard University professor William Julius Wilson

-and-

“The implication of the lowering of the price is that’s devaluing the black doll,” said Thelma Dye, the executive director of the Northside Center for Child Development.

Walmart’s position was back to those nutty capitalistic retailer ideas:

“Pricing like items differently is a part of inventory management in retailing,” WalMart spokesperson Melissa O’Brien said.

Ok, maybe they all have a point, and maybe you agree or don’t. But the pink elephant in the room went without mention, once again.

Residue. Reproduction of ugly inequalities. I don’t believe the actions of a retailer selling black dolls at “sale” prices is harming the socioeconomic fiber of black children in the US – I submit that it’s rather black leaders, schools, and government that do this.

Black leaders spew diatribes at the black community, telling them how they have been and are being oppressed, and being treated unfairly in all social and economic situations. The black community are constantly reminded of their unfortunate history in the US, and not of any strides and outright changes made since the early 60’s. Why are black people always portrayed by their own leaders as an exclusionary group, and not what they are – American citizens – PART OF the whole, not just “apart” from the whole?

Educators use black history month to drive this exclusionary mantra home. I am certainly not saying that history of the Civil Rights movement is not important – I am merely suggesting that we start calling it American History and to stop constantly pointing out the differences – constantly indoctrinating our youth that black people are different – so different that black history be separate from the rest of America’s history. Martin Luther King wanted black and whites sitting together – it wasn’t Mr. King’s idea to constantly have a separateness – his was a message of unification.

Indeed our US Government, as a never-ending apologetic reparations program has instituted programs further carving out a separateness of race, and not a kinship of mankind, such as Affirmative Action. Now before you go crazy – I understand why and how programs such as these, began– but what are they telling us now? It is like we as a nation are saying to the black youths of America that they aren’t able to qualify among the regular workforce, so we’ll give you a leg up. What’s the message here? Blacks aren’t as smart as other races? That blacks can’t compete unless the bets are hedged, that they can’t compete unless the deck’s been stacked in their favor? That giving black people a head start is the only way they can be equal with other nationalities? Even the PC term African-American is once again carving out a separateness of station. As if they must be hyphenated, or qualified in some way – just to make especially careful we redefine the differences over and over. Why not just be American?

If there is any message in the “Baribies” – it’s that it’s time to “sight in” our focus so that we’re aiming at the real problem here, and not continuing on the blame of our misguided past. We don’t need Black History month – we need a refocus on how black people are part of America’s history. Togetherness not separatist. We don’t need a separate section in the bookstore for black writers, or black literature – isn’t this exactly the OPPOSITE of what Dr. King wanted? Isn’t that just more segregation? Why not count the black authors among the white – standing side by side, and shoulder to shoulder – and not given preferential treatment, or segregated treatment, but a togetherness. A kinship. A sense of oneness.

We need to stop outlining our differences and concentrate on what makes us the same – let’s let Barbie be Barbie, and retailers make sense of business – and leave the residue out of it.